Courageous Dog Brings $1,000 At Auction

April 9, 1985|By United Press International

LOS ANGELES — A stray German shepherd whose stubborn loyalty to a fatally injured Doberman pal captured the hearts of animal lovers was auctioned off for $1,000 Monday to a retired car salesman who outbid two dozen people.

Mark ''Lucky'' Marlatt, 64, of Los Angeles, wrote his check with a shaking hand after emerging triumphant from 10 minutes of frenzied bidding.

Marlatt said he had expected to go high, ''but nothing like this.'' His forehead broke into a sweat as the bidding hit $500.

At $725, his voice started cracking and at $750 he turned to his wife and said, ''How much money do we have, honey?''

At $1,000, with the other bidders already dropped out, the 18-month-old dog was his. Actually, with state sales tax and city dog license included, the tab came to $1,079.50.

''Extraordinary,'' said Gary S. Olsen, district supervisor for the city Department of Animal Regulation.

''We've got a lot more animals in need of a home,'' he called out to the crowd as they left the East Valley Animal Shelter.

But they were only interested in the shepherd.

Marlatt said the $1,000 price was ''worth it,'' saying he would call the dog Hero.

''It's only money,'' he said. ''You can't take it with you. I love dogs.'' Animal control officers found the unnamed shepherd late last month standing guard over the injured female Doberman pinscher, which had been hit by a car and was lying injured in the gutter of a busy street.

''The shepherd did something I have never, ever seen a city dog do,'' said Estelle Dvorin, who spotted the two dogs and notified officials. ''He lay down, covering the Doberman's body with his, oblivious to the fact that cars were coming up the street.

The Doberman was too badly injured to be saved and shelter officials had to destroy her.